Demotion? I reckon you’re missing the picture here. Game day tactics and scouting? This is a step up in Hawthorn’s game day capabilities. Which other team has made the room for a coach to full time consider opponent specific tactics? Not as an also job but as a sole focus.

Now the line and stoppages coaches can concentrate on skills and positioning while Yze can plan offensive movements and strategies by opponents and defensive setups as well. Film can be cut to show players exactly what is effective in each situation.

I reckon it’s a great innovation and you’ll see all AFL teams following suit in the next three years.

Senior List

Why Clarkson is such a great coach is his capacity to build the right coaching panel and to let it evolve.
Clearly he regards Yze as an important part of that panel and club dynamic.
Equally clearly he wanted Sam Mitchell to be part of it.
The interesting thing is that Caroline Wilson who is usually pretty well-informed on such things is also clearly of a view that Mitchell is being groomed as a replacement for Clarkson.
I was always of the view that Hodge would be the better coach. But perhaps in the cold hard light of day Sam Mitchell might prove to be the one.
Whatever the situation it is also clear the club is in the best position to know these things and in
the best position to set the future up... whichever way they choose to go.
For what it's worth I don't think Clarko has definitively made up his mind, but Sam being at Hawthorn is a win-win as far as he is concerned and as far as the club is concerned.
You only have to look at what is going on at Manchester United and other clubs worldwide who have had ' Napoleonic' generation coaches to see how difficult these transitions can be.
I think it is fantastic the way Hawthorn are managing this.
Viva les Hawks

Club Legend

Luke Hodge has one of the best tactical minds in the game but Sam will make better coach, in that he has a more complete skill set.
Just like his playing Sam prepares meticulously. From Management studies to communication techniques, the next little chief has been acquiring all the pre requisites to step into the top job.

My fantasy is to see Hodgey back in our coaches box in a tactical and development role whilst Sammy steers the ship.

Premiership Player

Luke Hodge has one of the best tactical minds in the game but Sam will make better coach, in that he has a more complete skill set.
Just like his playing Sam prepares meticulously. From Management studies to communication techniques, the next little chief has been acquiring all the pre requisites to step into the top job.

My fantasy is to see Hodgey back in our coaches box in a tactical and development role whilst Sammy steers the ship.

When you can make the same money working 20-30 hours a week as a senior assistant coach who works 60-70 hours a week, and your job security isn't tied to win/loss records, I can understand why Hodgey would wanna go down this road.

Brownlow Medallist

Luke Hodge has one of the best tactical minds in the game but Sam will make better coach, in that he has a more complete skill set.
Just like his playing Sam prepares meticulously. From Management studies to communication techniques, the next little chief has been acquiring all the pre requisites to step into the top job.

My fantasy is to see Hodgey back in our coaches box in a tactical and development role whilst Sammy steers the ship.

Debutant

When you can make the same money working 20-30 hours a week as a senior assistant coach who works 60-70 hours a week, and your job security isn't tied to win/loss records, I can understand why Hodgey would wanna go down this road.